BUSINESS ON
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES
FROM PROVERBS 31.
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Korea, Timothy Haahs was raised in a leper colony where his parents worked as missionaries. When Tim was 12 years old, his family immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the
United States.
Graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a Masters degree in Civil and Urban Engineering, Tim worked his way up the corporate ladder to become the youngest principal at a nationally renowned engineering firm.
Tim was on the fast track to a successful career. But in late 1992, he unexpectedly slammed into a series of medical evaluations, halted by a dire diagnosis:
he would need a heart transplant.
In January 1993, Tim received a new heart and returned to work on a part-time basis in May of that year. Yet, his life-threatening experiences would forever change the way he viewed his life and career. During his recovery, Tim realized there was a higher purpose for his life than climbing the corporate ladder. He wanted to help those in need, and felt that establishing his own company would begin to pave the pathway.
So in 1994, Tim founded TimHaahs, an architecture + engineering firm specializing in the planning and design of parking and mixed-use structures. The cornerstone that has firmly grounded this company is its mission statement:
“We exist to help those in need.”
The firm helps those in need through financial support, as well as giving of time through various charitable organizations.
In 1997, Tim extended his devotion to this mission and became a founding
pastor of Calvary Vision Church (CVC). CVC is an independent, non-denominational church with a multicultural congregation. It is a church that has the unique position of being housed under the same facility as Tim's firm, a day care, and community center.
Not so long after establishing CVC, Tim learned that the first heart he received in 1994 was not functioning properly. Yet, by the miraculous work of God, his second transplant was a perfect match. After a successful procedure, he walked a long road to recovery with the loving support of family, friends, employees, and clients.
In 2006, Tim was selected as Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for the Real Estate and Construction category in the Philadelphia Region. In 2010, he was recognized by ZweigWhite as the Jerry Allen Courage in Leadership Award recipient, as well as the Engineer of the Year by ASCE Philadelphia. Additionally, Tim was named the 2012 Delaware Valley Engineer of the Year.
Most recently, Tim was nominated by the White House for a Member position on the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Building Sciences. In February of 2012, he was featured on the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), Korea’s leading public services broadcaster and the most influential media organization in the country.
Tim also serves as the Vice Chair of Board of Directors for Biblical Theological Seminary and on the Boards for Jesus Awakening Movement of America (JAMA), Einstein Healthcare Network, Philip Jaisohn Foundation, and the Network of Korean-American Leaders (NetKAL).
Tim currently resides in Lower Gwynedd, PA with his wife, Janice. They have two daughters, Christina and Julianna.